Is the intention obligatory in the specific voluntary fasts, such as the six days of Shawwal, 'Arafah, and 'Ashura, or is it permissible to make the intention during the day?
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The questioner : Is the intention obligatory in the specific voluntary fasts, such as the six days of Shawwal, 'Arafah, and 'Ashura, or is it permissible to make the intention during the day?
The Shaykh : Voluntary acts are of two types: absolute voluntary acts and restricted voluntary acts. For an absolute voluntary act, it is permissible for a person to make the intention during the day, provided he has not done anything that breaks the fast before that. For example, a man gets up for the Fajr prayer, and before he breaks his fast with the pre-dawn meal, he desires to fast that day, so he makes the intention. His fast is valid and sufficient, and he is rewarded for the fast from the time of his intention, not from the dawn. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 1 This man did not make the intention from the dawn, but rather made it during the day.
The second type is restricted; a voluntary act restricted to a specific day. This must be intended before the dawn so that he has fasted a full day, like the day of 'Arafah, for example. For instance, a person gets up on the day of 'Arafah, and it was not his intention to fast, but during the day he fasts, having not eaten or drunk before and not committed anything that breaks the fast. We say: You have fasted, and there is no impediment, but you do not receive the reward of one who fasted the day of 'Arafah, because you did not fast the day of 'Arafah; you fasted part of the day of 'Arafah, so you do not obtain the reward of one who fasted the day of 'Arafah. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. The questioner, Umm Yasser, has this question; she is asking about.
The Shaykh : Voluntary acts are of two types: absolute voluntary acts and restricted voluntary acts. For an absolute voluntary act, it is permissible for a person to make the intention during the day, provided he has not done anything that breaks the fast before that. For example, a man gets up for the Fajr prayer, and before he breaks his fast with the pre-dawn meal, he desires to fast that day, so he makes the intention. His fast is valid and sufficient, and he is rewarded for the fast from the time of his intention, not from the dawn. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئٍ ما نوىThe second type is restricted; a voluntary act restricted to a specific day. This must be intended before the dawn so that he has fasted a full day, like the day of 'Arafah, for example. For instance, a person gets up on the day of 'Arafah, and it was not his intention to fast, but during the day he fasts, having not eaten or drunk before and not committed anything that breaks the fast. We say: You have fasted, and there is no impediment, but you do not receive the reward of one who fasted the day of 'Arafah, because you did not fast the day of 'Arafah; you fasted part of the day of 'Arafah, so you do not obtain the reward of one who fasted the day of 'Arafah. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. The questioner, Umm Yasser, has this question; she is asking about.